My receiver is not receiving traffic from my state's P25 trunked system. The radio was working until I had to deal with a problem getting audio through my ProScan. I have resolved that problem but now the scanner doesn't seem to recognize any traffic. I fear that in fixing my audio problem I may have altered some setting(s) that have stopped the radio from receiving. It works fine on favorites with conventional (analog) traffic but nothing from my digital favorite. I am hearing the state's transmissions on an analog simulcast of State Police dispatch so I know traffic is there. I can receive no traffic from any site despite showing good received signal strength. I've reset the scanner, reseated the SD card, made multiple rewrites of the scanner data from ProScan and even shut it all down overnight to give the system and me a break. I'm at wits end. I would appreciate any ideas on solutions. Thanks.
BCD536HP: Not receiving P25 Trunked traffic
- Thread starter msp563
- Start date
It sounds to me like you're using favorites lists that you programmed. If so, have you tried turning them off and turning on the full database, followed by entering your zip code and scanning via that method? It's possible you might have to turn off all of the nationwide systems and reduce the range setting, but If you hear your state's P25 trunked system then, sounds like a programming issue of some nature.
I'm not sure what the correlation between fixing an audio issue and your issue would be, but try the above and see what the result is.
I'm not sure what the correlation between fixing an audio issue and your issue would be, but try the above and see what the result is.
Thanks for your reply and suggestion. I have run the scanner as you suggested for the weekend and I'm seeing the same results. The receiver's caught plenty of traffic, but all of it analog. I am getting no traffic from the state's system though I can hear it on their analog simulcast using another scanner side by side. I have seen the system's ID come up on the Uniden's display as it scans but it never gets the traffic.
tvengr
Well Known Member
How old is your scanner? There was a hardware change in newer BCD536HP scanners and it was found that the scanner was unable to receive digital frequencies above 172.2 MHz in the high VHF band. There was a firmware update issued to correct the problem. The Penobscot County site uses frequencies in that range.
I'm not sure just when I bought it, but it's been better than a year that I've had it. It's received flawlessly since day one. I normally work with sites at Bald Mt and Bangor but I have worked with sites north and south of me successfully.
tvengr
Well Known Member
The Bangor and Bald Mountain sites have frequencies in that range. I believe your scanner's age falls within the time of the problem. Try doing a firmware update using Sentinel to see if that fixes it.
Sounds like that's my next step. I'll give it a try and see if it helps. Thanks.
tvengr
Well Known Member
It is actually above 171.2 MHz.
I'm not seeing any change since doing the firmware upgrade. It looks like in the morning I'll be wrapping the radio up for a trip back to Uniden. Just to be sure, I've made changes to the towers I'm trying to receive and I still cannot capture any traffic off the P25 system.
tvengr
Well Known Member
Before you send the scanner back, let me look at your favorites list. Go to the File tab in Sentinel and click on Export to hpe file (Favorites List). You will need to zip the exported file to attach it. Click on Attach files and open the zipped file.
I have attached a copy of my MSCOMM favorite. I have noticed that in the receiving mode I am showing no bars on the signal meter. Sometimes when a unit is transmitting bars show up but scanner does not acknowledge seeing any traffic. This is only on the digital traffic. Analog traffic is received normally. I have swapped out the antenna with one of my other scanners and it makes no change. The antenna I normally use checks out okay on other radios.
tvengr
Well Known Member
Here are a couple of things to try. First, avoid the Cadillac Mtn, Garland DOT, Houlton RCC, and Passadumkeag Mtn sites. Your squelch should normally be set at 2. You could have nearby transmitters overloading the receiver. Try turning on the attenuator. Try using IFX on all of the frequencies in the Bangor and Bald Mountain sites (not just control channels). What firmware version do you show in the scanner? MENU > Scroll to Settings > Press E > Scroll to See Scanner Information > Press E > Scroll to Firmware Version > Press E. ---- Press AVOID to exit menus.
Okay. I have set Passadumkeag site to avoid. The only active sites I have right now are Bald Mt and Bangor. I have set my squelch at 2. I have turned the attenuator on. I downloaded a firmware upgrade the other day and I'm now showing Version 1.28.16. I am having trouble setting IFX. I've tried following the user's manual and despite several tries I'm not finding the right menu track to get to the setting option.
I am still seeing no indicated receive signal most of the time with 2-3 bars flickering on randomly.
I will be honest, it sounds like you are set on the repeater input frequency, not it's output frequency. Those few low power receptions would lead me to believe they are mobiles nearby transmitting on the repeater's input frequency.
tvengr
Well Known Member
I looked at the OP's favorites list file. It is setup with the correct frequencies for the 2 sites where there are receive problems.
tvengr
Well Known Member
You can set IFX frequencies in the Sentinel profile editor under the Miscellaneous tab.
tvengr
Well Known Member
I suggest that you click on Report and request that your thread be moved to the Maine forum. There will be a lot of members in your area using the MSCommNet system. They may be familiar with the problems you are having and will be better equipped to offer solutions.
Ubbe
Member
Check what control channel frequencies that the closest sites are using. Then push Channel and enter the frequency without pushing the E button and then push Channel again. Set squelch to 0 and listen if you hear a signal. Push Function and 7 to toggle IFX and compare if you hear a data signal much clearer. It will automatically switch to digital mode if the data are good enough to decode. Test each sites control channel. It will start to receive in analog mode, the same as your working channels, and if it detects data it switches to digital.
Push function and then push the volume control to enable to see the data bit error on your display. Error numbers below 5 are a good signal. If you see the value to the left of Aut go to 14 or 15 it means that the signal are too weak and you can try to set the digital threshold to manual mode and select an 8. It's in the menu for Srch/CloCall Opt.
If you have 2-3 bars and then push Function and 4 to toggle attenuator On and the signal are still there it will probably indicate that you have overload problems. But if the signal disappears then it's probably fine.
It doesn't seem likely that digital systems have worse reception sensitivity than analog and Uniden will just return your scanner with a "performs to specification" message.
/Ubbe
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Before sending it in, check it stand-alone with no LAN connected to eliminate outside influences.
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